Au Chocolate

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

Amy
9.0

master the world — loved!! — a month ago

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

This 2006 was a tale of 1/2 of the bottle decanted in a wide decanter and the other 1/2 left in bottle. The bottom 1/2 bottle better than the 2 hour decant. The decanted part lost complete Bordeaux character, mid palate and depth. A shorter decant was in order, but that doesn’t mean this 06 is waning. It has another 7–10 yrs from bottle.

2006 was the vintage that followed the grand 2005 vintage, not an entirely fair growing seasons. Based on the 2005 vintage, the Bordelaise overpriced the 2006 vintage. The Bordelaise disappointed in the price they sold 2005’s looked to make up their perceived losses in 2006. Except, the quality wasn’t the same. Not even close.

The nose shows brambly, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries and lean raspberry edges. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark chocolate bar, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather,. softy layered baking spices, black licorice-tarriness, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender.

The palate is ripe, juicy w/ medium, rounded tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries and lean raspberry. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark & slightly melted chocolate, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, softy layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, mid dark spices w/ some palate heat, black licorice-tarriness, dry herbs, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dry top soil, moist, grey, volcanic clay, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender, very nice acidity, nicely balanced, well structured/tensioned w/ an elegant finish that lasts a minute plus and lands on earth & spice with mid intensity palate heat.

92 decanted. 93 the bottom 1/2 of the bottle, not decanted.
— 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 9 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Sharon and 10 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Deep, dense red-purple hue. licorice, toasty oak, and subtle mocha notes. Dark fruits like blackberry and plum are noticeable, but it's more restrained than overtly fruity.
full-bodied, with sultry dark fruits (black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, licorice, and spice. Can’t wait for at least another 5 years before I try this again. Didn’t feel too you but feels like it will be better with age.
— 9 months ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

This Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft and tasty red with plummy flavors and hints of chocolate and coffee with a smooth silky finish. The longer it breathes the softer and silkier it gets. — 3 years ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael

Au Bon Climat

Hildegard Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley White Blend 2018

Apple, lemon candy, dried apricot, oak and hints of peach. Great acidity and balance. — 3 years ago

Milissa liked this

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey

Au Bout du Monde Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay 2019

This was rich, ripe & above all Delicious! — 2 months ago

Juan, Jean-Philip and 5 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023

Pale lemon color with stone and tropical fruit aromas and citrus floral notes adding an earthy spice from 10 months surlie aging. On the palate flavors of apple, pineapple and lemon citrus with floral and baking spice. Lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, citrus and earthy spice. — 3 months ago

Paul, Juan and 1 other liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous purplish garnet color. On the nose: Intoxicating musky notes of dark fruit, potting soil, worn leather, truffles, stewed meat, slight menthol. Taste: velvety, seamless, balanced, intense wine with dark fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, mineral, herbs, and a chocolate graphite long never-ending finish. YUM! This wine has aged gracefully and has more gas in the tank. Enjoy. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 12 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

"Isabelle" California Pinot Noir 2021

Perfumed red fruits.

Cherry, zippy structure, earthen, licorice, fennel.
— 5 months ago

romo liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Medium bodied, berries & chocolate, low acid. Delicious — 6 months ago

Robin, Dave and 8 others liked this

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot 2021

Ming L
9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure.
— 2 years ago

Tom, Bob and 1 other liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Another outstanding vintage! Dark ruby color. Aromas of black currant, black cherry tobacco and dark chocolate. Bold blackberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, dried spices and oak. Long and smoky finish. Full bodied, lush, powerful and rich. Bright acidity and firm tannins. Beautifully complex. Revisited again in July 2023. My Boss loved it! — 3 years ago

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 2 months ago

Joel, Somm and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Their 2023 Artemis took a nice step up in quality. Fruit now comes from the estate.

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Coconut, chocolate, dill, cherries, and a hint of pepper. Milder tannins and medium bodied with a big mid palate and earthy finish. — 3 months ago

Lou Ann Mowry
with Lou
Tom liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

[Tasted on March 19, 2026 at Home]

Blackberry and black cherry fruit, with vanilla, chocolate and licorice notes. Plush wine which has aged well.
— 4 months ago

Boekenhoutskloof

The Chocolate Block Cinsault Blend 2023

Light fruity aroma, dark red, medium body, dry and succulent, dark fruit flavor, paired nicely with venison. — 5 months ago

Peter Michael Winery

Au Paradis Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Nose is faint, fully resolving into the body. Body is soft and supple but wonderful experience on the palate with medium finish. Great wine. Tannins are still there, but holding the body with gossamer gloves. — 9 months ago

Au Bon Climat

Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2021

Apparently this translates to “up all night” or something heeeeeyyyyy — 2 years ago

Dylan liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc Blend 2021

Eric I
9.2

Great wine to pair with an LSU loss — 3 years ago